01
Leadership
A diverse workforce for a robust Canadian economy
It has been our privilege to have helped hundreds of thousands of clients – over the past 39 years – access employment services and gain the skills and connections they need to thrive in the Canadian labour market.
That’s where our value lies. We support underserved groups and newcomers to Canada to overcome barriers to employment so they can find and keep suitable work and contribute to our country’s economic growth.
Canada’s economy is undergoing significant transformation, shaped by shifting national priorities, rapid advances in technology, an aging population, and geopolitical forces such as war, climate-related disasters and trade disputes.
Underemployment of immigrants and other marginalized groups means billions in lost opportunity cost each year which requires us to upskill and reskill these potentially displaced workers and think of new ways of training and credentialing.
In this time of great uncertainty and disruption, building a strong, inclusive and skilled workforce is essential because a labour market that leverages the talents of all workers builds economic stability, innovation and resilience.
Our sector-specific initiatives are informed by employers and industry experts and tailored so that they can prepare jobseekers to fill roles in emerging fields such as healthcare and engineering, construction trades and manufacturing, finance, technology and agri-tech. We’re finding innovative ways to help those furthest from
the labour market overcome barriers and connect with employers to find pathways to careers. Our programs help internationally trained professionals leverage their experience in Canadian workplaces, and through pre-arrival supports we help immigrants start their job search even before they arrive. (cont.)
Jobseekers Served
0
K+
Take unique count of jobseekers tracked in SF and other systems and add untracked drop-in session participants. See below for breakdown.
Assisted clients secured employment or enrolled in an educational or training program
0
%
Average of all programs having outcomes targets.
Clientele are
immigrants
immigrants
0
%
Employers in our network
0
+
Clientele are
immigrants
immigrants
0
%
Employers in our network
0
+
Mentors
0
Pre-arrival clients who used ACCES services
0
Our Commitment to Inclusion
Our Commitment
to Inclusion
Land Acknowledgement
At ACCES, we are deeply committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. At the forefront, we honour Indigenous communities across Canada; it is their sacred land on which we are privileged to live and work. In the Greater Toronto Area, where ACCES operates, we acknowledge this land is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. As we carry out our mission of supporting jobseekers, many of whom are recent immigrants to Canada, we embrace our responsibility to learn about the history and culture of Indigenous communities, the past and present harm, and impact of colonialism, including the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. We are committed to working together towards building a more inclusive, just, and equitable future.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Canada is recognized globally for its diversity, yet immigrants and other equity-deserving groups continue to face significant barriers to employment. Newcomers may encounter challenges such as language, unfamiliar workplace norms, and unequal access to opportunities, making finding employment more complex. At ACCES Employment, we are committed to advancing equity in Canada’s labour market. Our services are designed to support newcomers and women, youth and racialized individuals, persons with disabilities and the LGBTQ2S+ community. Our commitment to diversity in Canada’s labour market starts in our own workplace. We’re dedicated to creating an environment that reflects the communities we serve, and to building an organizational culture where everyone feels respected and included. At ACCES, diverse perspectives are not only welcomed, they are essential to our work and to the impact we have in building a more equitable future for all.
02
Collaboration
Collaborating
for Growth
We work closely with many partners to ensure our programing is always growing,
evolving and responding to Canada’s economic priorities. Our employer network
helps us stay tuned into economic shifts, anticipate future trends in the labour market
and scale solutions for jobseekers locally, nationally and globally. We collaborate to
identify in-demand sectors and create programs to prepare jobseekers to fill specific
gaps in the labour market. Through our joint efforts, we are always supporting the
needs of jobseekers and employers, even as the economy shifts.
ACCES demonstrates a strong commitment to collaboration by working directly with employers across a range of industries to design programs that align with current labour market demands. This sector-specific approach ensures that newcomers gain the practical skills, credentials, and cultural understanding required to succeed, while employers benefit from a talent pool that is well-prepared and job-ready from day one.
— Stef Saad, Co-founder & Vice President, Les Entreprises SmartLux Inc., and Co-Chair of the ACCES Stakeholder Advisory Council
ACCES demonstrates a strong commitment to collaboration by working directly with employers across a range of industries to design programs that align with current labour market demands. This sector-specific approach ensures that newcomers gain the practical skills, credentials, and cultural understanding required to succeed, while employers benefit from a talent pool that is well-prepared and job-ready from day one.
— Stef Saad, Co-founder & Vice President, Les Entreprises SmartLux Inc., and Co-Chair of the ACCES Stakeholder Advisory Council
i.
Pathways to jobs in agricultural technology
There is a high demand for skilled workers in the agri-tech sector as the societal focus on environmental sustainability and food security demands new approaches to agriculture, including vertical farming. With our funding partners Upskill Canada (powered by Palette Skills) and the Government of Canada, ACCES Employment is responding to this urgent labour market need through our Connecting to Careers in Agricultural Technology within Vertical Farming program. The program is informed by our industry partners and offers a pathway for those looking to launch or advance their careers in agricultural technology and is one way we’re addressing real-world industry needs. Humber Polytechnic also joined as our academic partner.
ii.
Tapping young people for the trades
To support Canada’s goal to build more housing and address the demand for skilled tradespeople, we’re partnering to equip highly-barriered jobseekers with the skills, knowledge and support they need to succeed in construction trades. One way that we tap into this hidden talent pool is through funding from the Greater Toronto Airport Authority Uplift Fund where we travel directly to youth within their communities to offer opportunities to experience various trades through video presentations and virtual reality via our mobile employment service, the ACCES Street Fleet which is a new initiative funded by Toronto Pearson. Additional funding from Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s Apprenticeship Branch is enabling us to prepare workers for metalworking, carpentry and masonry while breaking down barriers, promoting inclusion and creating pathways to stable, high-paying careers. Our Connecting to Careers in Construction two-part series attracts youth who may not have considered working in construction while the second stream focuses on the pre-apprenticeship stage of a career in skilled trades.
iii.
Linking mid-career workers to advanced manufacturing
Advanced manufacturing is a vital sector in the Canadian economy, yet there is an urgent skill and labour shortage that can be addressed in part by training and hiring marginalized jobseekers including immigrants. Upskill Canada (powered by Palette Skills) and the Government of Canada are partnering with ACCES to tackle the skills and labour mismatch. Our Connecting to Careers in Advanced Manufacturing upskilling program has been created in collaboration with Humber Polytechnic, and other experts in the field to help mid-career workers find and keep technical jobs through post-secondary training, mentoring, and job placement.
iv.
Meeting demand for early childhood educators
In some of Ontario’s fastest-growing communities, the demand for affordable childcare continues to outstrip supply, creating an urgent need for early childhood educators. In partnership with the Region of Peel, MLITSD’s Ontario Bridge Training Program (OBTP), Sheridan College, Humber Polytechnic and Fanshawe College, ACCES Employment’s Connecting to Careers in Early Childhood Education series is preparing people for careers in this high-demand sector. The programs lead to a college diploma in Early Childhood Education, registration with the college of early childhood educators, and employment in this high-demand sector.
v.
Supporting our health workforce
Canada’s growing and aging population is increasing the demand for healthcare services at a time when the country is
experiencing a shortage of healthcare workers. Our Healthcare Connections series support internationally educated healthcare professionals secure nonlicensed employment in Canada in
the broader sector while they pursue licensing.
The program’s success relies on many partners. The Centre for
Advancing Collaborative Healthcare & Education offers training in healthcare communications. The Bruyere Health Research Institute’s Equity in Health Systems Lab (EqHS) offers healthcarespecific training in equity, diversity, inclusion and access. For skills related to mental health in the health workplace, we partner with the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
ACCES Employment also creates pathways for internationally educated physicians into our healthcare system through a program that bridges language and communication gaps. Health English Language Pro (HELP) is pairing volunteer Canadian doctors
with foreign-trained doctors so they can build social capital, learn medical terminology in English and increase their familiarity with Canadian healthcare communications and systems.
vi.
Supporting newcomers
Canadian Employment Connections is a pre-arrival employment program funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that’s designed to help internationally trained professionals prepare for the Canadian job market before immigrating to Canada. The free program brings together ACCES Employment’s expertise and our vast network of Canadian employers to help pre-arrival immigrants in their job search journey. Almost one-third of people who take the program have secured Canadian employment before arriving.
vii.
Delivering Employment Ontario and WCG Services
With an 85 per cent client employment success rate in jobs commensurate with jobseekers’ skills and experience, ACCES is recognized across the province for delivering Employment Ontario services with excellence, and has been able to work with WCG Services in completing its integrated employment service transformation with success across all seven offices. Today, ACCES has numerous unique service interventions that include sector-specific bridging and upskilling programs across multiple sectors.
It’s about serving with passion and purpose and making meaningful change in the lives of jobseekers. I’m committed to helping people make progress in their career journey.
— Claudette Orolfo, Employment Consultant, ACCES Employment
It’s about serving with passion and purpose and making meaningful change in the lives of jobseekers. I’m committed to helping people make progress in their career journey.
— Claudette Orolfo, Employment Consultant, ACCES Employment
03
Our Stories
Amplifying Our Stories
We’re expanding awareness about who we are and what we do by taking new approaches to storytelling and engagement so that more people can find us and benefit from our employment services. The more we’re in the local, provincial and national conversation on the economic and social contributions of a fully inclusive labour force, the more we’re able to attract partners who want to support and grow our programs.
One of the most important things I received from ACCES’ Empowering Women program, where I was with 19 other women, was having that circle of women I could lean on for support in the early days of looking for a new role in Canada. It was really a game-changer for me being a new immigrant.
— Pamela Anoliefo, ACCES Alum and Release Train Engineer, TD
04
Partnership
Engaging community and government partners
ACCES Employment is a leader in the employment service space, regularly
engaging with governments, community partners, and non-profit organizations.
We hosted our first Learning Symposium, an in-person event where hundreds of
skills development professionals, government leaders, and industry experts came
together to discuss how economic empowerment can be achieved through career
growth.
At the Conference Board of Canada’s Canadian Immigration Summit, we
shared our perspective on the future of settlement and employment services and
how collaboration by public, private, and non-profit organizations is essential. We also
discussed challenges and opportunities as part of First Work’s Federal Advocacy Day,
offered program learnings at Metropolis’ immigration and integration conference,
and continue to work closely with our sector partners such as the Ontario Council of
Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), and World Education Services (WES).
We’ve refreshed our communications channels to better engage with key audiences
and showcase the positive impact ACCES has on the lives of jobseekers, and support
employers. These include a focused media centre and strategy, impact video
testimonials, and a revamped newsletter with significant reach. We share our story
through participation at festivals across the Greater Toronto Area including Toronto
Newcomer Day, the Taste of Little Italy, Pride, and the Bloor West Village Toronto
Ukrainian Festival.
05
Innovation
Innovating for Impact
The world of work is evolving, and we’re taking new approaches to employment services to ensure what we offer reflects what’s needed now and in the future. We’re staying ahead of trends in the labour market, innovations in skills development, and the services jobseekers need to secure employment so that we are providing the most effective programs possible.
0
Staff Hours Saved by VERA
Our VERA Chatbot was recently featured in a new report on innovative AI tools, transforming how jobseekers access employment resources by enhancing accessibility, saving staff time and enabling more personalized support. Read the report.
Partnering with employers
ACCES Employment builds strong relationships with employers so that our programs are aligned with the needs of the economy, even as it evolves. Our Stakeholder Advisory Council brings together the expertise of a diverse group of 19 leaders, sponsors, donors and alumni to ensure our work is always relevant. It is because of their real-world perspectives that we can build pathways to jobs, address the needs of employers, and anticipate the skills that will be needed in emerging sectors.
Mobile services
We know that not all jobseekers have the capacity to come to us. That’s why we’ve launched the ACCES Street Fleet, an innovative new mobile employment service that delivers support directly to the most vulnerable populations in the Greater Toronto Area. The retrofitted van was made possible through our donors and partners who generously contributed to our annual World of Difference fundraising campaign. We are also grateful to our key supporters, Toronto Pearson and United Way Greater Toronto. In addition, HP Canada donated technology for the mobile service and Sephora, a contributing donor, provided an investment that helps bring resources directly to communities that need them the most.
There are many reasons to partner with ACCES Employment. They have helped us connect with a talent pool that is both rich in skills and diversity, which has helped us achieve our goals. Their post-hire support enables new hires to be successful in their new positions.
— Claire Wappett, Recruiter, Bruce Power
06
Leading
Leading by
Example
ACCES has always had a vision for an inclusive labour force that reflects the diversity, skills, and experiences of Canada’s population. Our fundamental belief that Canada needs a diversity of skills and viewpoints to move our economy forward also informs our workplace culture and practices.
As an employment service leader, we’ve grown to over 200 staff across seven locations and have built capacity, infrastructure, and a culture of innovation so that employees feel a sense of belonging and pride in their work.
Innovation drives me to always ask “How can I make a positive difference in someone’s life?” It’s about building connections, empowering others to share their unique experiences, and fostering a more compassionate community. For me, it’s all about the power of connection and helping people value their own voices.
— Victoria Woodcock, Project Manager, ACCES Employment
Innovation drives me to always ask “How can I make a positive difference in someone’s life?” It’s about building connections, empowering others to share their unique experiences, and fostering a more compassionate community. For me, it’s all about the power of connection and helping people value their own voices.
— Victoria Woodcock, Project Manager, ACCES Employment
07
Financials
Financial Health
We are a non-profit, charitable organization with a strong commitment to the effective stewardship of funds. We adhere to high standards of transparency and accountability and are audited annually by an independent auditor on measurable outcomes. Each year, we report on our impact and our financial well-being to our funders and donors, sponsors and community.
Statement of Financial Position
Statement of Revenue, Expenses
and Changes in Net Assets
08
Future
Future Directions
Demand for employment services is surging as Canada grapples with a challenging economy that’s making it even more difficult for newcomers and marginalized jobseekers to find and retain jobs. Shifts in global trade, a shortage of workers resulting from an aging workforce and immigration policies, and advances in technology that are transforming the skills required by workers make it even more imperative to have strong and innovative employment supports. By delivering relevant and timely employment services to all people who need them, we can build a resilient workforce that reflects Canada’s diversity, skills and experience.
Focus on underserved communities
Newcomers and marginalized populations have significant contributions to make in supporting our labour market. In the coming years, ACCES Employment will continue to provide pathways to jobs. To achieve a truly inclusive workforce in Canada, we’ll put particular emphasis on our underserved communities. We’ll work with those who face the most challenging barriers to employment and continue to find innovative ways to connect to those who should not be left behind.
Quick Fact
0
%
of skilled newcomers are employed in their area of expertise or a related field after participating in ACCES sector-specific bridging programs.
Commitment to sustainable funding
As our services become even more essential, we’ll work to secure sustainable funding so jobseekers can feel confident that they will always have a place to turn to for help. In the coming years, we’ll work to build a diversified portfolio of financial support that will allow us to reach more jobseekers, expand our services, and adapt to the changing needs of the labour market. Public, private, and non-profit partnerships will help us fulfill our vision and make a lasting impact for individuals and Canada’s prosperity.
At Toronto Pearson, we know how transformative meaningful employment can be. That’s why we’re proud to support ACCES on the launch of Street Fleet - a mobile innovation that brings job opportunities directly to the community, ensuring people facing the greatest barriers can access the support, resources, and guidance they need.
— Ruba Al-Nazer, Associate Director of Social Impact, Toronto Pearson
